Dozens of detainees held during Venezuela’s protests over the contested July presidential election have been released, according to the rights group Foro Penal. The releases included 50 individuals from Tocorón prison in Aragua state and an additional 20 from three other detention centers, as reported by Foro Penal’s director, Alfredo Romero.
Footage from outside one of the facilities shows emotional reunions, with those freed embracing family members amid supportive crowds. Foro Penal notes that more than 1,800 individuals have been detained since the election protests began, spurred by concerns over President Nicolas Maduro’s controversial re-election. Widespread international skepticism surrounds Maduro’s victory, with many countries rejecting the result.
The releases come after the tragic death of Jesús Manuel MartÃnez Medina, a member of the opposition party Vente Venezuela, who had been detained in early August. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Attorney General has announced plans to review the cases of over 200 more detainees, suggesting potential additional releases.
Despite Maduro’s upcoming six-year term beginning in January, Venezuela remains in crisis, with the opposition and global community challenging the election’s legitimacy.
Source: Swifteradio.com
